Coin-testing mechanism for coin-controlled machines



June 5, 1923.

A. D. GROVER COIN TESTING MECHANISM FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES 2Sheets-Shee/t'- l Original Filed Aug. 24, l9l7- June 5, 1923.

A. D. GROVER TESTING MECHANISM FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES COINOriginal Filed Aug. 24, l9l7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVENT DR filber 17.Grover;

dizzy', l

will" Patented June 5, 1923.

ALBERT D. GROVER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TQ

AUTOSALES CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COIN-TESTING MECHANISM FOR COIN-CONTROLLED MACHINES.

Application tiled August 24, 1917, Serial No. 187,935. Renewed April 30,1919. Serial No. 293,809.

T o all whom 'it may coflwem:

Be it known that I, ALBERT D.' GRovER, a citizen of the United States,and resident of New York, county and State of New York,

6 have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Coin-TestingMechanisms for Coin-Controlled Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention 1s to provide a coin-testing device forcoin-controlled machines to prevent operation of the machine by means ofwashers, by means of coins or checks that are too thin, and by coins orchecks thatv are of smaller than prescribed diameter. The mechanism ofmy invention is exceedingly simple and compact, and 1s especiallyadapted to be applied to vending machines of small size, such as areused in theatres or like places.

The various objects and advantages of my invention will become apparentfrom a detailed description of the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In these drawings- Fig. 1 shows a rear view of a supporting plateadapted to be attached to a vending machine and provided with thecoin-testing mechanism of my invention, the parts being shown inposition when a good coin is passin through the machine.

ign 2 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, a portion of thefront cover plate being broken away to show the parts within.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing how a washer is lockedagainst passage through the machine.

Fig. 4 is a front view of Fig. 3, a portion of the cover plate beingbroken away ,for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary detailed view in section on an enlargedscale, the section being taken approximately on line 5 5 of Fig. 3,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in cross-section, taken approximately on line6 6 of Fig. 2, looking downwardly.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view on line 7 7 of Fig. 4, looking downwardly.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale, showing how atoo-thin coin or check is locked against passage through the machine.

Fig. 9 is a to plan view in cross-section on line 9 9 of ig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation, showlng how a too-small coinor disk is locked against passage through the machine. Fig. 11 is a,longitudinal cross-section on hne 11 11 of Fig. 10, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the cointesting and washer-catchingpawl of my invention.

The various parts of the mechanism of my invention are mounted on asuitable support which is shown in the drawings in the form of a plateor casting A adapted to be attached to any suitable form ofcoin-controlled machine. Broadly speaking, the support A may be of anydesired form of construction. This support or casing is provided with acoin-passage P through which the deposited coins are conveyed intooperative position within the machine. In the coin-passage P operates acoin-carrier 1 which is shown in the form of a disk having one or morecoin-receiving recesses 2. The coin-carrier 1 is operatively connectedwith a suitable member on the outside of the machine, such as a handknob 3 o-r the like. The knob 3 is provided with a hub 4 which passesthrough the support A and to which the coin-carrier 1 is secured by ascrew 5 or otherwise.

ln the recess 6 0f the support A is mounted a slide 7. Suitable springmeans, such as a coil spring 8, normally holds the slide 7 in uppermostposition, as shown in Fig. 1. The coil spring 8 may conveniently behoused in the opening 9 of the slide 7. The upper end of the spring 8bears against the top of the opening 9, while the lower end is supportedon the fixed stud 10 carried by the support A. The slide 7 is providedwith a lateral coin-engaging extension 11 which projects into thecoin-passage P The eX- tension 1l is formed with a downwardly bevelededge 12, over which the' coin rides to depress the slide out of the wayand allow the coin to pass through the machine. Preferably, also providethe extension 11 with an edge 13 which locks a coin against reversemovement after it has been passed into the -machine a suiiicientdistance to engage the edge 13. So far as the coin-testing mechanism ofmy invention is concerned, the locking edge 13 is not necessary.

On the opposite side of the supporting plate A is pivoted an arm 14 on apin or stud 15. At its lower end, the arm 14 carries a stop 16 whichextends through an opening 17 of the support A into the path ofmovementl of the locking shoulder 18 on the slide 7.

Adjacent to the stop arm 14, is mounted a coin-testing pawl 19. Thelower end of this pawl is supported in a suitable socket'or bearing 20carried by the support A. In the drawings, I have shown the support Aprovided with a recess or fiat chamber B in which the arm 14 and pawl19-are accommodated. The chamber B is closed by a cover plate 21. Theform of the pawl 19 is best shown in Fig. 12, from which it will be seenthat at its upper end, the pawl isprovided with a lateral extension 22,having a beveled edge 23, and with a projection 24 extending in theplane of the body of the pawl. The projection 24 is provided with anabrupt upper edge 25 and with a beveled lower edge 26. The arm 14 isprovided with a lateral extension 27 arranged to be engaged by thebeveled edge 23 of the pawl 19 when the latter is forced toward the arm14 under the action of suitable spring means, such as the spring 28.This spring is shown mounted on a stud 29, and is at its free endpermanently in engagement with the pawl 19, as clearly seen in Figs. 2and 4.

The projection 24 of the pawl 19 normally extends into the coin-passageP under the action of the spring 28. This is clearly shown in Figs. 5and 11. In order to allow the coin-carrier 1 to rotate freely when thereis no coin present, or when carrying a good coin, I provide thecoin-carrier with beveled edges 30, as indicated in dotted lines, forrepressing the projection 24 out of the coinpassage, whereby the forwardrotation of the coin-carrier is not interfered with, Whether the carrierbe empty or carries a good coin.

The beveled edge of the projection 24 permits the coin-carrier to berotated reversely when empty. So that, when the coin-carrier is empty,it is free to be rotated in either direction. This is not essential tomy invention and I describe it here merely as a preferred form.Experience in the operation of vending machines has shown that when anempty coin-carrier is suddenly brought to a stop after a limited amountof rotation, a great deal of unnecessary noise may be caused by thisidle movement of the coin-carrier. It is a fact that persons, especiallychildren, will toy with the operating member on the outside of a vendingmachine without depositing a coin. To avoid this unnecessary noisecaused by playing with the machine, Iy provide the beveled edge l? atone end of each coin-receiving recess. Also, it is not necessary thattwo coin-receiving recesses be provided on the coin-carrier l. The solepurpose in providing two, as shown in the drawings, is to require but ashort rotation of the coin-carrier before the deposited coin will fallinto one of the recesses. The machine will work just as well with onlyone recess in the coin-carrier. The projection 24 lies within thecircumference of the coin-carrier and is arranged in the circle ofmovement of the beveled edges 30. lVhen a coin is inserted into thecoin-entrance slot, it falls upon some portion of the coin-carrier. Theposition of the coin-carrier at the moment when the coin is inserted, isutterly immaterial. Should it happen that one of the recesses 2 is indirect alignment with the coin-entrance passage, the coin will at oncefall into proper position in the recess. When the coin-carrier is inthat precise position, the beveled edge 3() of the opposite recess willlie over the projection 24 and will have repressed the same. This lastmentioned point in the operation of the machine is immaterial, for nomatter in what position the coin-carrier may be when the coin isdeposited, the forward rotation of the coin-carrier will cause the cointo drop into one of the recesses 2 and will cause the beveled edge 30 ofthe other recess to repress the projection 24. Therefore, when thefurther rotation of the coin-carrier brings the coin against theprojection 24. the latter will remain repressed, for the coin is ofsubstantially the same thickness as the coin-carrier, and is in effect acontinuation thereof.

-When the pawl 19 is in normal positionthat is to say, when theprojection 24 extends into the coin-passage P, as shown in Figs. and11.- tlie beveled edge 23 of the extension 22 swings the arm 14 into theposition shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In that position of the arm 14, thestop 16 is in alignment with the shoulder 18 of the slide 7. When thearm 14 is thus held in locking position by the pawl 19, thecoin-actuated slide 7 is locked against full downward movement, itsmovement being arrested as soon as the stop 16 comes into Contact withthe edge 31 of the shoulder 18. It is only when the extension 22 of thepawl 19 is out of engagement with the arm 14 that the latter hangs in aninoperative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this, which may becalled the normal position of the arm 14, the stop 16 is out of the pathof movement of the shoulder 18, and the slide 7 is free to be moved outof the way by a proper coin in the carrier 1. Although I have shown thearm 14 provided with a weighted portion 32, which rocks the arm intounlocking position as soon as released by the pawl 19, it is obviousthat suitable spring means might be employed for the same purpose.

When a good coin is deposlted in the. machine, and the coincarrierrotated forwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow a,'tl1epro'ection 24 of the pawl 19 1s cammed out o the coin-passage'P by thebeveled edges 30 of the coin-carrier, and 1s held in that repressedposition by the coincarrier and the coin. As the coin is approximatelyof the same thickness as the coin-carrier, it becomes in effect a partof the comcarrier, and so holds the projection 24 out of thecoin-passage in the same way as the coin-carrier itself. When the coinin the coin-carrier engages the beveled edge 12 of the extension 11 onthe slide 7, the latter is forced downwardly. During this movement ofthe parts, the arm 14 hangs in unlocking position, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, because the extension 22 of the pawl 19 is bem held out ofcontact with the extension 27 o the arm 14 by the coin-carrier and thecoin itself. Consequently, the slide 7 is free to be depressed by thecoin until the latter is carried past the ,extension 11 and over theguiding edge 33 of the coin-paage through the discharge opening 34,whence the coin falls into operative position within the machine. Or,the coin may perform its intended function while it is being carriedthrough the coin passage and before it reaches the exit opening 34. Theparticular function of the coin in the machine is immaterial, so far asmy invention is concerned. The coin may operate either a goods ejector,or make an electrical connection, or perform any other desired function.

Let us now suppose that a washer is deposited in the machine and thecoin-carrier rotated forwardly. As soon as the opening in the washercomes opposite the projection 24 of the pawl 19, the spring 28 throwsthe projection 24 into the opening of the washer. This movement of thepawl 19 causes the inclined edge 23 of the extension 22 to engage theextension 27 of the arm 14 and thus move the arm into the lockingposition shown in F igs. 3 and 4. In this position of the arm 14`v thestop 16 is in the path of movement of the shoulder 18. Therefore, assoon as the lower edge 31 of-the shoulder 18 encounters the stop 16ofthe arm 14, further downward movement of the. slide 7 is arrested, andthe washer as well asthe coincarrier are locked against further forwardmovement. This is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, where' the washer isindicated by W.

In order to facilitate the locking engage ment between the shoulder 18and the stop 16, the engaging edges or surfaces of those two parts areoppositely beveled, so that the two interlock as soon as they meet. Theaction of the parts in arresting a washer is and coin-carrier are notarrested by engage- A ment with-the projection 24 of the pawl 19,

but by the locking engagement between the slide and the arm 14. In otherwords, the

abrupt edge 25 of the projection 24 possesses no washer-catchingfunction, but is for the purpose of stopping coins of too-smalldiameter, as will presently be explained. The

abrupt edge 25 does not engage the inner edge of the washer to lock thewasher, but the projectiton 24 simply enters the opening of the washerfor the purpose of controlling some other mechanism by means of whichthe arresting of the washer and the coincarrier is brought about.Therefore, as far as the washer-catching feature of my invention isconcerned, the upper edge'25 of the projection 24 need not be abrupt asshown, but the. projection could simply be in the form of a roundedbutton or any similar shape, so long as the lower edge 26 is beveled topermit a removal of the washer by reverse rotation of the coin-carrier.

The slide 7 is locked against full movement by the arm 14, not only whena washer is deposited, as above described, .but also when a coin orcheck of less than the required thickness is present. In Figs. 8 and 9,I have shown a disk D which is of less thickness than a proper coin, andtherefore of less thickness than the coin-carrier. When the disk comesopposite the projection 24 of the pawl 19, the projection 24 is moved aslight distance into the coin-passage, and this movement is sufficientto cause the beveled edge 23 to actuate the arm 14 into the positionshown in Fig. 8, where it will be seen that the stop 16 is in alignmentwith the shoulder 18 of the slide 7. Therefore, the forward movement ofthe coincarrier and the thin disk D is arrested as soon as the shoulder18 and the stop 16 come into locking engagement. As previouslyexplained, the engaging edges of the stop 16 and shoulder 18 areoppositely beveled, so that, when these two locking parts meet, the stop16 will be forced by the edge 31 from the position shown in Fig. 8 intothe position shown in Fig. 3, the same as when a washer was deposited.In this Way, a slight movement of the arm 14 toward the slide 7, issuicient to insure a locking engagement between the two.

In order to cause the pawl 19 to perform the additional function ofarresting disks of smaller size than the intended coin, I make the upperedge 25 of the projection 24 in the form of an abrupt shoulder. A

spring 35, pivoted at 36 to the rear plateB of the support A, is at itsfree end formed with a beveled head 38 arranged to extend through anopening 39 of the plate 37 into the coin-passage P. I have shown thespring 35 only in Figs. 10 and 11, so as not to obscure the otherfigures. The purpose of the spring-pressed beveled head 38 is to engagethe face of the coin or disk. If the deposited coin or disk is ofsmaller diameter than that of the prescribed coin, the spring head 38will retard the movement of the disk E relatively to the movement of thecoin-carrier, and a space or gap 40 is formed between the lower edge ofthe disk E and the coin recess 2. This is clearly shown in Fig. 10. Itwill be understood in this connection that the coin recess 2 is formedto fit almost eX- actly a coin of the proper size, so that a smallercoin will leave the recess 2 when retarded by the spring 38. As soon asthe gap 40 comes opposite the projection 24 of the pawl 19, the spring28 thrusts the projection 2i into that gap. The result is that the loweredge of the small disk E encounters the abrupt locking shoulder 25 ofthe projection Q4, and the disk and coin-carrier are locked againstfurther forward movement. The disk E, however, may by a reverse rotationof the coin-carrier, be carried back to the coin-entrance, whence it maybe removed by hand.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a very simple,compact and efficient mechanism, which in its preferred form has threedistinct coin-testing functions-namely, prevents washers, checks whichare too thin, and checks which are too small, from passing into themachine, at the same time allowing the intercepted checks to bewithdrawn to keep -the coinpassage clear.

Although I have herein set forth a specitic form of mechanism embodyingmy invention, I will have it understood that I do not intend to belimited to the details shown and described. It is obvious that, in itsbroad aspect, my invention may be mechanically carried out in other waysthan that set forth.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a coin-controlled machine, a shallow upright casing provided witha coinpassage and a coin-entrance slot, said passage and said slot beingin the plane of said casing, a coin-carrier operable in the plane ofsaid casing for conveying the deposited coin through said passage, ayieldably mounted pawl movable transversely, of the plane of said casingand having a portion normally projecting into said passage, saidprojecting portion being repressed y a proper coin on said carrier topermit full operative movement of the carrier, and a device mounted tooperate in the plane of said casing and controlled by said pawl forpositively locking said carrier against forward movement when the checkon said carrier allows said projecting portion to extend a predetermineddistance into said coin-passage, said projecting portion permittingreverse movement of the coin-carrier to bring the intercepted check backto the coin-entrance slot for removal, said mechanism being in unlockingposition when said projecting portion of the pawl is held out of thecoin-passage.

2. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a descendingcoin-passage and a coin-entrance slot, a coin-carrying disk rotatable insaid coin-passage for conveying the deposited coin therethrough, amember on the outside of said casing for operating said disk, ayieldably mounted pawl having a portion normally projecting into saidcoin-passage, means on said disk for repressing said projecting portionwhen the disk is rotated empty, said projecting portion being alsorepressed by a proper com in said disk to permit full operative movementthereof, and mechanism controlled by said pawl and mounted independentlythereof for positively locking said disk against forward rotation whenthe check in said disk allows said projecting portion to extend apredetermined distance into said coin-passage, said projecting portionpermitting reverse rotation of the disk to bring the intercepted checkback to the coin-entrance slot for removal, said mechanism being inunlocking position when said projecting portion of the pawl is held outof the coin-passage.

3. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-passageand a coinentrance slot, a coin-carrier for conveying the deposited cointhrough said passage, a yieldably mounted pawl having a portion normallyprojecting into said passage, said projecting portion being repressed bya proper coin on said carrier to permit full operative movement of thecarrier, a yieldable member in the path of movement of the coin on saidcarrier and adapted to be moved out of the way by the coin to permitoperative movement of the carrier, and a movable locking devicecontrolled by said pawl for locking said member against movement by thecheck on said carrier when said check allows said projecting portion toeX- tend a predetermined distance into said coin-passage, saidprojecting port-ion of the pawl permitting reverse movement of thecoin-carrier to bring the intercepted check back lto the coin entranceslot for removal, said device being in unlocking position when saidprojecting portion of the pawl is held out of the coin-passage.

4. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a descendingcoin-passage and a coin-entrance slot, a coin-carrying disk rotatable insaid coin-passage for conveying the deposited coin therethrough, amember on the outside of said casing for manually operating said disk, ayieldably mounted pawl having a portion normally projecting into saidcoin-passage, means on said disk for repressing said projecting portionout of the coin-passage to permit rotation of said disk when empty, saidprojecting portion being repressed'by a proper coin in said disk topermit full operative movement thereof, a yieldable member in the pathof movement of the coin in said disk and-adapted to be moved out of theway by the coin to permit full forward rotation of said disk, and amovable locking device controlled by said pawl for locking said memberagainst movement by the check in said disk when said check allows saidprojecting portion to extend a predetermined distance` into saidcoin-passage, said projecting portion permitting reverse rotation of thecoin disk to bring the intercepted check back to the coin-entrance slotfor removal, said device being in unlocking position when saidprojecting portion of the pawl is held out of the coin-passage.

5. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coinpassageand a coinentrance slot, a coin-carrier for conveying the deposited cointhrough said passage, a yieldable member projecting into the path ofmovement of the coin through said passage and adapted to be moved out ofthe way by a proper coin, and mechanism controlled by the thickness ofthe check in said carrier for locking said member against movement whensaid check is of less than predetermined thickness at its center,whereby said coin-carrier and said check are locked against forwardmovement, said mechanism permitting reverse movement of the coin-carrierto bring the intercepted check back to the coin-entrance slot forremoval.

6. In a coin-controlled machine, a easing provided with a coin-passageand a coinentrance slot, a coin-carrier for conveying the deposited cointhrough said passage, a yieldably mounted pawl having a portion normallyprojecting into said passage, said projecting portion being repressed bya proper coin on said carrier to permit full o erative movement of thecarrier, a yielda le member in the path of movement of the coin on saidcarrier and adapted to be moved out of the way by said coin to permitoperative movement of the carrier, a movableilocking device mountedindependently of said pawl and provided with a. normally inoperative stoand means on said pawl for actuating said device to move said stop intopositionto lock said memberv against movement by the check in saidcarrier when said check allows' said projecting portion to extend apredetermined distance into said coin-passage, said projecting portionpermitting reverse movement of the coin-carrier to bring the interceptedcheck back .to the coin-entrance slot for removal, said stop being inunlocking or inoperative position when said projecting portion of thepawl is held out of the coin passage.

7. In a coin-controlled machine, a coincarrier. a yieldable pawl 'havinga portion projecting into the path of the ooin on said carrier, saidprojecting portion being moved out of the way by a proper coin on thecarrier, a movable locking device arranged to be actuated by said pawlinto locking posit1on when the check on said carrier is of less thanpredetermined thickness at the point where it engages said projectingportion of the pawl, and a member independent of the coin-carrier forlocking said coin-carrier against forward movement when said device 1s1n locking position, said projecting portion of the pawl permittingreverse movement of the coin-carrier for the removal of the interceptedcheck.

8. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-passageand a coin-entrance slot, a coin-carrier having a recess for receivlngthe deposited coin to convey the same through said passage, a pivotedpawl having a head normally projecting into the path of the coin in saidcarrier, said projecting head having an abrupt upper edge and aninclined lower edge, and a spring having a portion arranged in the pathof the coin in said carrier to retard the movement of a too-smallcoin'or check with respect to the movement of said carrier before saidcoin or check reaches the projecting head of said pawl, whereby a. spaceor gap is formed between the lower edge of the too-small coin or checkand said recess of the coin-carrier to allow said head to project intosaid space or gap, the abrupt upper edge of said head engagmg the loweredge of the too-small coin o r check and thereby looking thecoin-carrler against further forward movement, said inclined lower edgeof the pawl head permitting reverse movement of the coin-carrier tobring the intercepted coin or cheek back to the coin-entrance slot forremoval.

9. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a descendingcoin-passage and a coin-entrance slot, a disk rotatable in saidcoin-passage and having a recess for receiving the deposited coin toconvey the same through said passa-ge, an upwardly extending pawlpivoted at its lower end at one side of said coin-passage and providedat its upper end with a head projecting normally into the path of thecoin in said disk, said projecting head having an abrupt upper edge andan inclined lower edge, and a spring mounted at the opposite side ofsaid coin-passage, said spring having a portion arranged in the path ofthe coin in said carrier to retard the movement of a too-small coin orcheck with respect to the movement of said coin-carrier before said coinor check reaches the head of said pawl, whereby a space or gap is formedbetween the lower edge of the too-small coin or check and thecoin-recess of the disk to allow said head to project into said space orgap, the abrupt upper edge of said head engaging the lower edge of thetoo-small coin or check and thereby locking said disk against furtherforward movement. said 1 nclined lower edge of the awl head permittingreverse rotation of said disk to carry the intercepted coin or checkback to the coin-entrance slot for removal.

10. In a coin-controlled machine, an iipright casing provided with adescending coin-passage and a coin-entrance s lot, a coincarrier havinga recess for ieceiving the deposited coin to convey the same downwardlythrough said passage, a pivoted pawl having a head normally projectinginto the path of the coin in said carrier, said projecting head havingan abrupt upper edge and an inclined lower edge, and a device forretarding the descending movement of a too-small coin or check withrespect to the movement of said carrier before said coin or checkreaches the projecting head of said pawl, whereby a space or gap isformed between the lower edge of the too-small coin or check and saidrecess of the coin-carrier to allow said head to project into saidspace, the abrupt upper edge of said head engaging the lower edge of thetoo-small coin 'or check and thereby locking the coin-carrier againstfurther forward movement, said inclined lower edge of t-he pawl headpermitting reverse movement of the coin-carrier to bring the interceptedcoin or check back to the coin-entrance slot for removal.

11. As a new article of manufacture, a coin-testing member forcoin-controlled machines, comprising a main body portion, a headprojecting from said body portion in the plane thereof, said head havingan abrupt edge and an inclined edge, and a beveled portion extendinglaterally from said body portion, for the purposes specified. i

12. As a new article of manufacture, a coin-testing member forcoin-controlled machines, said member being formed of a single piece offiat metal having a main body portion, one end of said body portionbeing bent laterally thereof and having a beveled edge, and a beveledhead projecting from said body portion in the plane thereof near saidlateral portion, for the purposes specified.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a coin-testing member forcoin-controlled macoin-passage leading from said slot, acoincarrierfor'receiving the deposited coin and carrying the same through saidpassage, a yield-able member havin a portion nor` mally projecting intosaid coin-passage but adapted to be moved out of the way by a propercoin in the coin-carrier, and mechanism Separate from said member andcontrolled thereby for locking said coin-carrier against forwardmovement when the check on said coin-carrier allows said projectingportion to extend into said coin-passage, said mechanism including ayieldab-le element arranged to be engaged. byV the edge of the coin orcheck in said coin-carrier.

15. In a coin-controlled machine, a rotatable coin-carrier, a pivotedmember adapted to engage the face of the coin or check in saidcoin-carrier, and mechanism separate from said member and controlledthereby for locking said coin-carrier against forward rotation when thecheck in said coin-carrier is of less than predetermined thickness atany point where it contacts with said member, said member and saidmechanism being mounted to operatein planes at right angles to eachother.

16. In a coin-controlled machine, a coincarrier, a movable memberadapted to engage the face o-f the coin or check in said coin-carrier, amovable locking device controlled by said member and adapted to be movedinto locking position when the check on said coin-carrier is of lessthan predetermined thickness at any point where it contacts with saidmember, and means arranged to be engaged by the edge of the coin orcheck in the coin-carrier for loc-king said coin-carrier against forwardmovement when said device is in locking position, said coin-carrierbeing reversely movable to carry the intercepted check into refundingposition.

17. In a coin-controlled machine, a coincarrier, a movable member havinga portion adapted to engage the fac/e of a. coin or check in saidcoin-carrier, said engaging portion having a locking surface, and a device for positively retarding the movementv of a too-small coin or checkwith respect to the movement of said 'coin-carrier before said coin orcheck reaches said engaging portion, whereby a space or gap is definitelformed between said too-small coin or chec and said coin-carrier toallow said engaging portion to project into said space -or gap, so thatsaid locking surface engages the edge of the too-small coin or check andthereby positively locks the coin-carrier against .further forwardmovement, said coin-carrier being reversely movable to carry theintercepted coin or check into refunding position.

18. In a coin-controlled machine, a rotatable coin-carrier, a movablemember having a projection for engaging the forward edge of a too-smallcoin or check in said coin-carrier and thereby positively arresting saidcoin-carrier against further movement, an actuating element carried bysaid member, and mechanism for arresting the forward movement of saidcoin-carrier when it carries a check of less than predeterminedthickness at the center, said mechanism being actuated by said elementand the position of said element being controlled byA said projection.

19. In a coin-controlled machine,'a coincarrier, a movable memberprovided with a projection having two coin-engaging surfaces, one ofsaid surfaces being adapted to engage the face of a coin or check insaid coin-carrier, the other surface being adapted to engage the forwardedge of a too-small coin or check in said coin-carrier and thereby locksaid too-small coin or check against further movement into the lmachine, sai'din said coin-carrier, and mechanism for projectionpermitting reverse rotation of the coin-carrier for removal of thetoo-small coin or check, and mechanism controlled by said member andmounted independently thereof for locking said coin-carrier againstforward movement when the check in said coin-carrier is of less thanpredetermined thickness at any point w ere it contacts with thefirst-mentioned surface of sai` member. j

20. In a coin-controlled mechanism, a shallow upright casing adapted tobe sa cured toa vending machine, said casing 5.aing provided with acoin-passage an a coin-entrance slot arran ed both in the plane in thecasing, a rotata le coin-carrier operable in said coin-passage toreceive a deposited coin or check and carry it downs wardly intooperative position, a. member mounted in said casing to operate in aplane transversely thereof, and means on said member for entering thehole of a washer and for engaging th'e edge of a too-small coin or checkin said coin-carrier, thereby locking said coin-carrier against furtherforward rotation, said member permitting reverse rotation of thecoin-carrier for ready removal of the intercepted coin or check throughthe entrance slot.

21. In a coin-controlled machine, a coincarrier, a movable memberarranged to be engaged by the edgev of a proper coin in saidcoin-carrier and thereby moved out ofl the way, a second movable membervadapted to engage the face of a coin or check in said carrier, andmechanism for locking said first member against movement when the coinor check engaged by said second member is of less than predeterminedthicknessl at the center. l

22. In a coin-controlled machine a rotatable coin-carrier, aspring-presse member arranged to be engaged by the ed e. of a proper comin said com carrier and t ereby moved out of the way, a pivoted devicearragged to engage the face of a coin or check locking j said memberagainst movement when the coin or check engaged by said device is ofless than predetermined thiclmess at the center.

23. In a coin-controlled machine, a rotatable coin-carrying'disk, amovable member mounted to operate in a plane transversely to the planeof said disk, and means on said member for entering the hole of a.washer and for engaging the ed e of a toosmall coin or check held insaid 'sk, whereby said disk is locked against further forward rotation,said means permitting re'- verse ratation of the disk for removal of theinteret ed coin or check. j

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st da of August,1917.

ALB RT D. -GROVER

